Illawarra businesses can now register for the Amazing Race Wollongong. Event founders Emily Squires and Chantelle Esteves, of the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, have enlisted the help of TAFE NSW Wollongong travel, hospitality and event students to help organise the team challenge this year. Proceeds will go to Convoy’s Illawarra Community Foundation. Convoy manager Mark Rigby said since the establishment of the foundation Convoy was involved in fundraising events throughout the year and the proceeds were shared among many people in need in the Illawarra community. Mr Rigby said people loved seeing where the money goes and how it is being spent in the local area. “It used to be a one day event Convoy. But now there are many events. Days like this give people who don’t own a truck or a bike an opportunity to get involved,” he said. Mrs Squires said Wollongong’s Amazing Race had been popular from the outset eight years ago and businesses who had competed in previous years were often asking when they could register for the next event. “It has come a long way. When Chantelle and I began we started without much of a plan. But we knew what we wanted the outcome to be and we just ran the event and built it from there. Now everyone wants to be part of it. We chose Convoy’s Illawarra Community Foundation as the funding recipient this year because we wanted to contribute to local charities.” 2017 was the first involvement for Diploma of Event Management student Kate Darby who this year is taking the experience she gained last year and is sharing it in her new position as a TAFE teacher. Ms Darby said the students loved the practical hands-on experience. TAFE Wollongong teacher in charge of hospitality Jeanne Parker said the student’s involvement last year was so productive there was no hesitation to do it again. The annual fundraising initiative is a chance for them all to showcase their talents in hospitality, event management and tourism. It also provides them with a networking connection to more than 20 businesses who take part each year. “TAFE will have its own checkpoint on the day. We also help all the checkpoints set up. We help coordinate the registrations and we run a silent auction on the day. We are also looking after social media posts. And we are looking to raise as much money this year as we can for Convoy,” Ms Parker said. The TAFE students have already done a marketing plan and budget for the October 26 event are encouraging registrations at www.racegong.com.au. Mrs Squires said the students had brought some great structure to the event which will only get a bigger and better as a result. Mrs Esteves said when she was involved in starting Wollongong’s Amazing Race eight years ago she thought it might just be a one off. “I am very excited that it is still going”. How it works: Related stories: Fun guaranteed at Amazing Race Wollongong 2014 Registrations open for Wollongong's Amazing Race involving Peoplecare, the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach and NSW TAFE

Illawarra businesses can now register for the Amazing Race Wollongong.

Event founders Emily Squires and Chantelle Esteves, of the Novotel Wollongong Northbeach, have enlisted the help of TAFE NSW Wollongong travel, hospitality and event students to help organise the team challenge this year.

Proceeds will go to Convoy’s Illawarra Community Foundation.

Convoy manager Mark Rigby said since the establishment of the foundation Convoy was involved in fundraising events throughout the year and the proceeds were shared among many people in need in the Illawarra community.

Mr Rigby said people loved seeing where the money goes and how it is being spent in the local area.

“It used to be a one day event Convoy. But now there are many events. Days like this give people who don’t own a truck or a bike an opportunity to get involved,” he said.

Mrs Squires said Wollongong’s Amazing Race had been popular from the outset eight years ago and businesses who had competed in previous years were often asking when they could register for the next event.

“It has come a long way. When Chantelle and I began we started without much of a plan. But we knew what we wanted the outcome to be and we just ran the event and built it from there. Now everyone wants to be part of it. We chose Convoy’s Illawarra Community Foundation as the funding recipient this year because we wanted to contribute to local charities.”

Entries open for Wollongong’s Amazing Race

2017 was the first involvement for Diploma of Event Management student Kate Darby who this year is taking the experience she gained last year and is sharing it in her new position as a TAFE teacher. Ms Darby said the students loved the practical hands-on experience.

TAFE Wollongong teacher in charge of hospitality Jeanne Parker said the student’s involvement last year was so productive there was no hesitation to do it again.

The annual fundraising initiative is a chance for them all to showcase their talents in hospitality, event management and tourism. It also provides them with a networking connection to more than 20 businesses who take part each year.

“TAFE will have its own checkpoint on the day. We also help all the checkpoints set up. We help coordinate the registrations and we run a silent auction on the day. We are also looking after social media posts. And we are looking to raise as much money this year as we can for Convoy,” Ms Parker said.

The TAFE students have already done a marketing plan and budget for the October 26 event are encouraging registrations at www.racegong.com.au.

Mrs Squires said the students had brought some great structure to the event which will only get a bigger and better as a result.

Mrs Esteves said when she was involved in starting Wollongong’s Amazing Race eight years ago she thought it might just be a one off. “I am very excited that it is still going”.

How it works:

Just like in the Amazing Race seen on TV, teams will be challenged with clues, problems and the pressure of time.

Teams will race from check point to check point experiencing tasks and activities that will challenge and entertain.

Organisers keep tight-lipped about what fun challenges are in store for those taking part in the race this year.

The event will kick off at the Novotel Northbeach and teams have approximately 3 hours to get through around 20 checkpoints in and around Wollongong.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third placed teams, best dressed and highest fundraising teams.

The event provides great exposure for business and corporate teams and checkpoint sponsors. Team registrations are now open at www.racegong.com.au

Details from the Notovel’s human resources department on 02 4224 3111 or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/racegong/.